Futurism, Expressionism & Constructivism

The Origins of Cubism

Key Artists: Georges Braque and Pablo Picasso

Violin and Candlestick by Georges Braque (1910)
Les Demoiselles d’Avignon by Pablo Picasso (1907)

Development of Cubism

Influenced by Paul Cézanne's work.
Both Braque and Picasso painted subjects from several perspectives simultaneously, leading to the creation of angular forms that appeared to resemble cubes.
The term “Cubism” was coined by Gertrude Stein, and it became widely accepted.

Futurism

Notable Work: Unique Forms of Continuity in Space

Artist: Umberto Boccioni (1913)

Notable Work: Dynamism of a Soccer Player

Artist: Umberto Boccioni (1913)

Influential Figures

F.T. Marinetti at the center, with Umberto Boccioni to his right in various initiatives.

Futuristic Manifesto (1909)

Creators: F.T. Marinetti and Antonio Sant’Elia

Celebration of Danger: We advocate the love of danger and temerity.
Core Elements of Poetry: The foundations of our poetry include courage, daring, and revolt.
Literature's Refocus: We reject the previous magnification of immobility and transcendental states, favoring an exaltation of action and aggressiveness.
Beauty of Speed: We argue that the aesthetic of modern beauty lies in speed, exemplified by the imagery of racing cars.
Commemoration of the Driver: We venerate the figure of the man at the wheel, embodying an idealistic thrust towards new innovations.
Demand for Vigor: The poet must contribute vigor and heat to evoke fervor from the primal forces of existence.
Struggle as a Source of Beauty: We declare that true beauty exists only within the realm of conflict, asserting that no masterpiece exists without aggression.
Future-Focused Proclamation: A call to abandon the past and to embrace the absolute, unfettered by time constraints.
Glorification of War: War is asserted to be a kind of purification for the world along with a celebration of militarism and destructive impulses.
Destruction of Previous Values: A straightforward denunciation of institutions like museums, libraries, and conventional moralities that are viewed as impediments to progress.
Vivid Imagery of Modernity: A poetic portrayal of the vibrancy of modern life, including crowded urban spaces, technological advancements, and industrial activities.

Architectural Works

La Cittá Nuova

Architect: Antonio Sant'Elia
Date: 1912-1914

Expressionism and Related Concepts

Terms: Dynamism, Sachlichkeit, Orts Hass, Crystalism

Centennial Hall

Architect: Max Berg
Location: Wroclaw, Poland (Breslau, Silesia)
Date: 1911

Model Theater

Architect: Henry van de Velde
Location: DWB, Cologne
Date: 1914

Einstein Tower

Architect: Erich Mendelsohn
Location: Potsdam, Brandenburg
Date: 1919
Symbolism: Designed to reflect Einstein's Theory of Relativity, intended as a research facility for both Einstein and his assistants.
Description: The structure exhibits complexity akin to Swiss watch mechanisms; originally planned as a reinforced concrete building but completed in brickwork due to post-war construction challenges.
Einstein's Description: Einstein referred to the building as "organic."

Schocken Department Store

Architect: Erich Mendelsohn
Locations and Dates:
- Stuttgart, Germany (1928)
- Chemnitz, Germany (1926-1928)

Fauvism and Expressionism

Key Works by Henri Matisse:
- The Dessert: Harmony in Red (1908)
- The Dance II (1909)

Goetheneum II

Architect: Rudolf Steiner
Location: Dornach, Switzerland
Date: 1923

World War I: The German Experience

Aftermath of the First World War

Consequences of Treaties: The Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of St. Germain dismantled Austria-Hungary into smaller states, stripped Germany of territories like Alsace-Lorraine and parts of Schleswig-Holstein.
Economic Impact: The reparations imposed on Germany and the structural deficiencies of the Weimar Republic led to hyperinflation in 1923, obliterating personal savings and stunting industrial capital growth, resulting in significant challenges for innovation in architecture.

Constructivism

Key Figures:

Leon Trotsky
Vladimir Lenin
Josef Stalin

Notable Architectural Work: Monument to the Third International

Designer: Vladimir Tatlin
Location: Petrograd (St. Petersburg), 1920

Lenin's Tomb

Architect: Alexi Shchusev
Location: Moscow, Russia
Constructed: 1924, reconstructed in 1929

USSR Pavilion

Architect: Konstantin Melnikov
Event: Paris Fair
Date: 1925

Rusakov Worker's Club

Architect: Konstantin Melnikov
Location: Moscow
Date: 1927

The War of the Future

Artist: Rodchenko
Date: 1930

Architectonic Fantasies

Artist: Yakov Chernikhov
Date: 1930s